Peterborough lido opens this weekend for the first time since potential closure threats
Locals say they're excited to see the doors opening for the season
The group who campaigned for the Lido to remain open say they're excited to see the doors open for this season.
The Lido will this weekend for the first time since it was under threat of a proposed closure from Peterborough City Council to cut costs.
The council proposed mothballing the Lido in a bid to save £400,000 a year and help to close the £23 million budget gap faced by the authority.
It's really important to have this
Claire Marshall from Friends of Peterborough Lido said:
"I think if you consider all the benefits of swimming and that at the moment we don't have another affordable and accessible swimming facility in Peterborough, I think it's really important to have this."
"In terms of the community, it's one of the few places you see people from all generations and ages coming together."
"Tourists come to the city for the cathedral and the museum, and we know from our visitors book that they come for the lido as well, so if it wasn't here, it would be a major loss in terms of heritage and bringing people into the city."
If it wasn't here, it would be a major loss in terms of heritage and bringing people into the city
On January 20th, following public outcry, the council decided to scrap the proposals to close and instead look at ways of reducing the Lido’s running costs. The expected running costs are now understood to be at around £120,000 a year.
A range of measures which will reduce the cost of operating the venue will be introduced, including installing a pool cover to reduce energy costs, reviewing fees and charges, improving the food and beverage offer, and considering the temperature of the water.
Council officers will be tasked with attracting grants and income to cover the running costs aiming to move Lido ‘as close to break-even as possible’.